Adjustable passive standing assistance device

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this device is to give assistance to a person that is standing in a particular area for an extended amount of time. This is achieved for people of different heights by having a rotating joint at the base. A saddle joint at the base of the housing enables this device to be adjustable. The seat portion can rotate to adjust to different people. This supporting system is designed to bear some of the load while standing, to accommodate a more ergonomic environment for the person standing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to seating arrangements and moreparticularly to passive standing systems. In particular, passive seatingsystem arrangements to assist standing persons in a working environment.

BACKGROUND

Many types of tasks and jobs are becoming more automated and lessphysically demanding to be carried out. Some of these tasks and jobsrequire persons or laborers to interact in a stationary standingposition for extended periods of time. By example and without limitationto the present disclosure, such tasks and jobs may include but not belimited to: cashier, assembly line personnel, chef, lecturer, and othersimilar jobs and tasks.

Typically, these tasks and jobs are carried out in shifts ranging fromfour to twelve hours at a time with limited opportunities for breaks,and laborers are required to remain in a standing position for theduration of the task or job due to position requirements or rulespertaining to the usage of chairs. Some possible and noncomprehensivesituations are: an employee working on an assembly line where saidemployee must remain fully upright to fully reach their assigned area, agrocery store enforcing a rule to prohibit the use of chairs for allcashiers so that said cashiers are upright and may appear more appealingto customers, a lecturer wishing to maintain an upright position toportray a stronger stance, or other situations requiring an upright,stationary position.

Many persons performing said tasks and jobs have little to no problemscompleting them with ease. Unfortunately, many of these laborers havelimited physical abilities due to age or other health affecting factors.Said laborers have a high risk of experiencing negative health effectsfrom maintaining an upright, stationary position. This situation mayyield a person unfit to fulfill their assigned duties, forcing them toleave the current occupation.

There is, therefore an unmet need for persons with limited physicalabilities to realize a solution so such laborers may successfullycomplete any and all assigned tasks and jobs without facing negativehealth effects. The present disclosure addresses such a need.

SUMMARY

A system that provides passive assistance to standing persons. In one ormore embodiments, the present disclosure provides for a rotating basethat can shift to different positions to accommodate for persons ofdifferent heights. The base of the system is fastened to a verticalsupport and can be used placed into a seated position or collapse to bemoved out of the way. The passive seating system assembly includes:

-   -   A. A saddle joint at the base of the housing capable of about        one hundred and eighty (180) degree motion in the vertical        direction and about ninety (90) degree motion in the horizontal        direction. The saddle joint can be locked in place by inputting        a pin to prevent the saddle joint from moving    -   B. A saddle joint at the connecting point between the base of        the passive seating arrangement and the body of the passive        seating arrangement. This saddle joint is capable of a positive        rotational movement in the positive direction past the        horizontal    -   C. A spring system that allows the base of the seating        arrangement to vary slightly from the horizontal position when a        vertical force is input on the base of the passive seating        arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a detail of the apparatus, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a detail of the schematic of the socket mechanism, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A is a detail of the schematic of a various configuration of theassembly in this case a substantially 180-degree position, in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure

FIG. 3A is a detail of the schematic of a various configuration of theassembly in this case a substantially 90-degree position, in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure

FIG. 3C is a detail of the schematic of a various configuration of theassembly in this case a substantially 270-degree position, in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure

FIG. 4A is a detail of the schematic of a various configuration of theassembly in this case a substantially 45-degree position of itssubstantially 360-degree capability, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure

FIG. 4B is a detail of the schematic of a various configuration of theassembly in this case a substantially 225-degree position of itssubstantially 360-degree capability, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure

FIG. 4C is a detail of the schematic of a various configuration of theassembly in this case a substantially 135-degree position of itssubstantially 360-degree capability, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure

FIG. 5A is a detail of the schematic of a various configuration of theassembly in this case the spring is shown in an uncompressed state inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure

FIG. 5B is a detail of the schematic of a various configuration of theassembly in this case the spring is shown in a compressed state due tothe coupling of item, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the present disclosure the term “about” can allow for a degree ofvariability in a value or range, for example, within 10%, within 5%, orwithin 1% of a stated value or of a stated limit of a range.

In the present disclosure the term “substantially” can allow for adegree of variability in a value or range, for example, within 90%,within 95%, or within 99% of a stated value or of a stated limit of arange.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of thepresent disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used todescribe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitationof the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.

The present disclosure relates to an extendable assembly for a physicalfatigue reducing device and more particularly, reconfigurable bodyload-fatigue reducing devices. In particular, embodiments of the one ormore present disclosures relate to portable attachment points on thedevice allowing a variety of custom configurations and to assist otherdisabilities to readily handle, the physical stresses of their jobsthough out a hour work day.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications canbe made to the specific implementations described above. Theimplementations should not be limited to the particular limitationsdescribed. Other implementations may be possible.

FIG. 1 is a detail of the apparatus 100 in a compressed locked position,in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a detail of the schematic of the ball for a socket mechanism210, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the adjustable socket mechanism, in one or more embodiments,includes a ball 210, a coupled spring 220, and the socket as shown inFIG. 5A 540.

FIG. 3A is a detail of the schematic of the swiveling mechanism 332,shown pinned in the substantially 90-degree position 340 in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. From FIG. 3A,the adjustable swivel mechanism, in one or more embodiments, includes amale rod portion 432 and recessed female mating portion in 320. In oneembodiment, the male rod portion is situated within the recessed femalemating portion 320 where it may rotate and be temporarily positioned inone or more locked states. In a further embodiment, a pin 330 is used toconfigure the position of the armature 320 in various positions in therange between about 0-degrees to 180-degrees by increments of about7-degrees for each, 340, 345, 350, 355, 360, 365, 370, by inserting thepin 330 into holes in the tertiary support mount 332.

FIG. 3B is a detail of the schematic of the swiveling mechanism 332,shown pinned in the substantially 180-degree position 355 in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. From FIG. 3A,the adjustable swivel mechanism, in one or more embodiments, includes amale rod portion 432 and recessed female mating portion in 320. In oneembodiment, the male rod portion is situated within the recessed femalemating portion 320 where it may rotate and be temporarily positioned inone or more locked states. In a further embodiment, a pin 330 is used toconfigure the position of the armature 320 in various positions in therange between about 0-degrees to 180-degrees by increments of about7-degrees for each, 340, 345, 350, 355, 360, 365, 370, by inserting thepin 330 into holes in the tertiary support mount 332.

FIG. 3C is a detail of the schematic of the swiveling mechanism 332,shown in the substantially 270-degree position 370 in accordance withone or more embodiments of the present disclosure. From FIG. 3A, theadjustable swivel mechanism, in one or more embodiments, includes a malerod portion 432 and recessed female mating portion in 320. In oneembodiment, the male rod portion is situated within the recessed femalemating portion 320 where it may rotate and be temporarily positioned inone or more locked states. In a further embodiment, a pin 330 is used toconfigure the position of the armature 320 in various positions in therange between about 0-degrees to 180-degrees by increments of about7-degrees for each, (340, 345, 350, 355, 360, 365, 370), by insertingthe pin 330 into holes in the tertiary support mount 332.

FIG. 4A is a detail of the schematic of the socket mechanism 432, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FromFIG. 4A, the adjustable socket mechanism, in one or more embodiments,includes a ball 432 and socket mechanism 434. In one embodiment, theball 434 is situated within the socket 434 where it may rotate and betemporarily positioned in one or more locked states. In a furtherembodiment, the ball 432 is configured so the spring 530 from FIG. 5B iscoupled with the ball wherein the ball and spring may move in asynchronized manner. In a further embodiment, the socket is configuredto be attached or integral with a base 434.

FIG. 4B is a detail of the apparatus 440 in a further rotated positionof substantially 225-degree of the about possible 360-degree range, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Inone embodiment, the base of 440 of the apparatus further comprises aball joint 432 allowing rotation within the socket joint 434, whereinthe distal plate may be locked, fully or temporarily, with the base bytwisting the load bearing surface in relation to the armature 436.

FIG. 4C is a detail of the apparatus 440 in a further rotated positionof substantially 135-degree of the possible about 360-degree range, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Inone embodiment, the base of 440 of the apparatus further comprises aball joint 432 allowing rotation within the socket joint 434, whereinthe distal plate may be locked, fully or temporarily, with the base bytwisting the load bearing surface in relation to the armature 436.

FIG. 5A is a detail of the apparatus 530 in a compressed lockedposition, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure. In one embodiment, the base 540 of the apparatus furthercomprises a ball socket 545 for coupling to the base, wherein the basemay be locked, fully or temporarily, with the base by twisting the platein relation to the base 540.

FIG. 5B is a detail of the apparatus 530 in a compressed lockedposition, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure. In one embodiment, the base 540 of the apparatus furthercomprises a ball socket 545 for coupling to the base, wherein the basemay be locked, fully or temporarily, with the base by twisting the platein relation to the base 540.

1. A saddle joint at the base of the housing capable of about onehundred and eighty (180) degree motion in the vertical direction andabout ninety (90) degree motion in the horizontal direction. The saddlejoint can be locked in place by inputting a pin to prevent the saddlejoint from moving and coupled to a tertiary support that isn't includedin the devices structure.
 1. The device of claim 1, wherein the basefurther comprises a locking mechanism for locking the load bearing platewith the support beam
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the couple ofthe support beam and in the swivel hinge comprises a pinned joint forfastening these two components together.
 3. The device of claim 1,wherein the support swivel hinge couples to the tertiary supportcomprises a bracket to be coupled to.
 4. The device of claim 1, whereinthe swiveling device for assisting contains a spring system